New Wave

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New Wave is a rock n' roll sub-genre that gained popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980's, due largely to its heavy presence in videos shown on MTV.

First perceived as a slightly safer, more watered-down version of punk rock, the earliest New Wave practitioners were a rag-tag bunch of roots rockers like Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, and so-called "skinny tie" bands like the Cars and the Knack.

By the eighties however, New Wave came to be an all-purpose term characterizing anything that wasn't disco or metal. New Wave came to mean everything from the retro rock of the Romantics, Joan Jett, and the Go-Gos to the synth pop of Human League, Flock Of Seagulls, and Duran Duran.

At about the same time, a new breed of fashion conscious English metal bands like Def Leppard rose to prominence, that was tagged the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (or NWOBHM), which only further confused things. By the end of the eighties, with MTV's influence in decline and new genres like grunge emerging, New Wave's prominence had begun to fade.

Today, New Wave is largely viewed nostalgically by its fans, who nonetheless continue to blog about it at sites like Lost Bands Of The New Wave Era and the New Wave Diva.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “New Wave”

  • Jazz Set List, Dec. 10 – 16: Tim Warfield, Sean Gough, and More


    Arts DeskAuthority Authority: 142
    Dec. 11 Tim Warfield has the interesting distinction of being the most important jazz musician in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley region. But the high-octane tenor saxophonist has also built a sizable following in New York, Philadelphia, and here in D.C. For all his aggressive, sharp-edged playing, however, ...
    3 hours ago
  • Mix Six: “1981 (Part Two)”


    PopdoseAuthority Authority: 627
    DOWNLOAD THE FULL MIX HERE Last week we hung out with the rocker crowd from 1981, and this week it’s time to see what the new wave kids were into.  If you recall, I had the fortune — or misfortune — of attending three high schools in 1981, and for the most part, the music was the standard FM AOR rock that, at ...
    2 days ago
  • Missing Persons – Mental Hopscotch


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Warren Cuccurullo , American pop music guitarist for Missing Persons and Duran Duran , Tagged: alternative rock, December 8 birthdays, Duran Duran, electronica, Missing Persons, new wave, synthpop, Warren Cuccurullo
    2 days ago
  • Shock – Dynamo Beat 7″


    ?Authority Authority: 111
    Shock was a band that leveraged the “ robot dance ” into something of a career. Really that was all they could do — the robot dance. It got them into “ Return of the Jedi .” It got them into “ Hellraiser II .” Shock — Dynamo Beat Ridiculous.
    3 days ago
  • Abhay Deol -the thinker’s actor


    Thaindian NewsAuthority Authority: 731
    Abhay Deol is Bollywood’s answer to intelligent cinema and he has wowed audiences abroad with his performance and now we can’t stop raving about his intellect.Abhay Deol spoke at the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference on “The power of Stories” and had the audience completely engaged when he ...
    3 days ago
  • Psychedelic Furs – Love My Way


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Tim Butler , English musician ( Psychedelic Furs ) Tagged: December 7 birthdays, new wave, pop/rock, Psychedelic Furs, Tim Butler
    3 days ago
  • Florence


    The Ones2WatchAuthority Authority: 133
    Photography by Marie-Fleur Charlesworth | Styling by Sasha Rainbow | Hair & MakeUp Holly Watts
    3 days ago
  • i miss you timothy


    The Ones2WatchAuthority Authority: 133
    Photography by Aline & Jacqueline Tappia @ Studio Repossi | Styling by Lorenzo Posocco @ Glow Management Model Francisco Lachowski @ Why Not Model Management Special Thanks SlamJam & Marios
    3 days ago
  • Talk Talk - The Partys Over (1982)


    Explorando en tu MenteAuthority Authority: 109
    Talk Talk - The Partys Over (1982) Mp3 @ 192 kbps -50 Mb Primer álbum de Talk Talk en un plan enteramente "DuranDuranero", adjetivo que acabo de inventar y que no implica nada malo, claro está que Mark Hollis y los suyos estaban mas preocupados en las canciones, que en los peinados y la vestimenta; a ...
    3 days ago
  • Television Performs ‘Marquee Moon’


    The Delete BinAuthority Authority: 115
    Listen to this song by mid-70s proto-new wave giants Television. Its Marquee Moon, an epic length slice of alternative rock before there was such a thing as alternative rock. This song, an achievement in sound, unique in its placement in the pantheon of biggest songs in the world. The song is the title track to ...
    4 days ago
  • Quick overview of Tilewave


    WMPoweruser.comAuthority Authority: 152
    This is a quick overview of the newly ported tileware for Windows Mobile’s Touchpro2. Check it out.
    4 days ago
  • teh TOTALLY 80s s3quence


    jazzsequence.comAuthority Authority: 124
    music was a cornerstone of my childhood. i grew up with mtv and what i consider to be the height of radio — back when dj’s played good music that wasn’t dictated by record labels. some people think that 80s music sounds kitchy, dated, or lo-fi, but i say it’s all of these things that make 80s music great. ...
    4 days ago
  • Kate Fagan - Waiting For The Crisis


    Last Days of Man On EarthAuthority Authority: 104
    Kate Fagan - I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool // Waiting For The Crisis (Disturbed Records) 1980. Not to be confused with a current folk singer of the same name, Kate Fagan released this awesome 7inch in 1980 in Chicago. At the time she was a backup singer for the local ska band Heavy Manners but I guess she just ...
    4 days ago
  • [Ion011] Halo Effect – It Was Nothing (Remixes) (2009)


    DEEPGOA's Electronic SessionsAuthority Authority: 507
    After the digital release of their new album “The Fourth Zone” , the fourth remix-single “It Was Nothing” of the Italians Halo Effect is out now for free! A total of 9 different versions of the title song remixed by eg. A Spell Inside, People Theatre, Zero A.D. and Blank. ...
    4 days ago
  • The Jam – Eaton Rifles


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Rick Buckler , British drummer ( The Jam ) Tagged: December 6 birthdays, mod revival, new wave, power pop, Rick Buckler, rock, The Jam
    4 days ago
  • 80’s Music Rules ~ Criminally Underrated Artists/ Bands – The Neon Judgement


    Rave and Roll BlogAuthority Authority: 114
    The Neon Judgement is a post-punk duo from Leuven, Belgium that formed in 1981. Founding members were Dirk Da Davo (Dirk Timmermans) and TB Frank (Frank Vloeberghs). This duo produced music that was equal parts post-punk, New Wave, and goth/industrial. Ed-FM played a selection called “Tomorrow In The Papers” this ...
    5 days ago
  • Polarity Of Pretentiousness - Talking With People In The Film Industry.


    Kid In The Front RowAuthority Authority: 467
    Whats meant to happen is that the Filmy Person says "Have you seen [amazing old French movie] and you reply with "Um, ehhh, Im not sure-- I think, maybe.." and then that person feels temporarily wonderful that they love more films than you, whereas you feel inadequate, pathetic, and useless. However, with me, I always ...
    5 days ago
  • Haircut 100 – Love Plus One


    too sweet for rock and roll - music birthdays blogged dailyAuthority Authority: 152
    Les Nemes , British bassist, Haircut 100 Tagged: December 5 birthdays, Haircut 100, Haircut One Hundred, Les Nemes, new wave, pop
    5 days ago
  • Rock Clip of the Week - Joe Jackson Band "Friday"


    WAVED RUMORAuthority Authority: 423
    "Aint talking about Monday, Aint talking about Tuesday, Aint talking about Wednesday, Aint talking about Thursday, Im talking bout FRIDAY!" Friday Rules OK! Check out live Joe Jackson with his fine song "Friday"
    6 days ago
  • Single review: Black Soul Strangers – Lies


    The Dreaded PressAuthority Authority: 124
    Black Soul Strangers are from Dublin, and – to judge by their press photos – they’re a handsome foursome of young lads. The sort that Louis Walsh might simultaneously lust for and be repelled by, perhaps; handsome, yes, but with just enough edge to alienate the wholesome mum-thinks-he’s-a-dreamboat-too ...
    6 days ago

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